STUDY OF IDA - recto; SKETCH OF SEATED FIGURE - verso
black crayon - recto; brush and ink - verso
25.5 x 17.5cm; 10 x 6 3/4in (sheet)
(unframed)

Provenance:
William Rothenstein, London (a gift from the artist)
By descent from the above to the present owner

Ida Nettleship (1877- 1907), a fellow student at the Slade School of Art, married Augustus John, against her parent’s wishes, on 12th January 1901. Ida sacrificed her own artistic career to become a wife and mother, but domestic life soon lost its shine. Augustus moved Ida to the countryside while he spent time in London where he fell in love with Dorelia McNeill. Gwen John (1876-1939), Augustus’s sister, fellow artist and friend of Ida, took Dorelia off around Europe in an attempt to diffuse the situation. However, Augustus was so besotted by Dorelia that Ida eventually invited Dorelia to move to the countryside to live with her and Augustus in an attempt to improve her husband's temperament. Dorelia soon fell pregnant and the three moved with the children to live in a caravan on Dartmoor. There the children were brought up together - Ida had 5 sons in 6 years and Dorelia had two children while Ida was still alive. But once again the boredom of domesticity set in, although this time it was Ida and Dorelia who relocated to Paris leaving Augustus to follow thereafter. Ida tragically died in Paris at the age of 30 soon after the birth of her fifth son. Dorelia and Augustus went on to spend the rest of their lives together having another two children.

We are grateful to Rebecca John for confirming the authenticity of this work, who dates it to circa 1898, prior to Ida's marriage to Augustus John.


ARR may apply

note on Ida